Using mid size SUV for my DMV road test (rental car, rental)

[Marie_LA]

Taking my NJ DMV road test next week and having doubts about whether or not a toyota highlander is ok to use for my test. Confused about emergency break & foot break, is that the same? Your thoughts please, so I can look for other options and have ample time to familiarize myself should I need to look for a different car. Please refer to photo, the only other break I know is the foot parking break on the leftmost side on the floor, drivers side. TIA!

[Badfish740]

Originally Posted by Marie_LA

Taking my NJ DMV road test next week and having doubts about whether or not a toyota highlander is ok to use for my test. Confused about emergency break & foot break, is that the same? Your thoughts please, so I can look for other options and have ample time to familiarize myself should I need to look for a different car. TIA!

I think the rule is that the instructor must either be able to pull the emergency brake (ie: lever style in the center console) from the passenger seat, or if there is not one that they must be able to reach their leg over the center console to press on the brake (referred to as the "foot brake") in order to stop the car in an emergency. I'm not familiar enough with a Toyota Highlander to know whether or not it would be suitable, but if it has a center console emergency brake you should be fine.

[Marie_LA]

Thanks, Badfish740. I've attached a photo (highlander interior) for reference. I have this almost certain feeling that I need to make a plan B, just need others to help confirm my doubt. We only have one car, don't like asking big favors esp to borrow a car for couple of days, such a pain!

Ok so I just got off the phone with dmv and the rep confirmed it:

1. I cannot use the highlander, based on the description.
2. Rental car is also NOT possible. Even if husband who has license signs & writes me as extra driver, I have no license to show the rental ofc yet.
3. She did offer me the a couple of suggestions, should I have friends who may have that car. Honda Civic or Impala. She knows for sure they have either the bench type of seating or an emergency brake that is easily accessible.

Hope this post helps someone in the future. Thanks again!

[NJGOAT]

Well, you already got the answer, but just to confirm, no a Highlander won't work. The car needs to either have a lever style emergency brake which is usually mounted in the center console near the gear selector or it cannot have a full center console so the tester can reach the foot actuated emergency brake. There are very few cars and SUV's these days that don't have a full center console. On top of that, it is ultimately up to the discretion of the tester as to whether they feel that they can comfortably reach a floor mounted brake. So, you are pretty much limited to finding a car that has the lever style emergency brake.

One option is to contact a driving school. Many of them offer "loaner" vehicles that can be used for taking the test. A driving instructor will pick you up at your home and take you to the testing site and you then use their "dual brake" equipped vehicle (basically a secondary brake pedal mounted on the passenger side) to take the test. This is pretty much a foolproof approach as you are guaranteed their car will be acceptable and you get a ride to and from the testing site. This will cost money, but most likely not much more then renting a car and you won't have the hassle of trying to borrow one and hoping that it will be acceptable.